Trends and Developments in Biodiversity Informatics
Flora brasiliensis Revisited
Tools for making taxonomic data more comprehensive and useful
Kevin Thiele
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Many types of computer-aided interactive identification procedures are
possible, ranging from non-analytic "gestalt" or pattern-matching
methods to dichotomous keys, probabilistic methods and random-access
polyclaves. Early key programs tended to concentrate on one method only,
usually random-access keys, but all methods have strengths and
weaknesses, and there is a need to integrate and/or hybridise all
methods to produce a highly flexible package. Whatever the
identification method, there are two separate processes - data collation
and data delivery - that need to be efficient and effective. Data
collation should be integrated into the taxonomic process so that it can
reinforce the core business of taxonomy, while data delivery must be
attractive, reach a wide audience and, by doing so, raise the profile of
the underlying taxonomy. With biodiversity issues gaining a higher
international profile at the same time as a decline in taxonomic effort,
these issues are of great importance. An electronic Flora project is an
ideal platform for showcasing the "new taxonomy".
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